There are several noteworthy signals regarding ASTER's development prospects in the first quarter.

First, recent public opinion storms have indeed triggered market doubts about the project, but statements of support from leading forces within the ecosystem have given many people confidence. Although there has been no direct response, industry insiders can read the implied attitude—that the backing behind this is substantial.

Product progress is also accelerating. It is understood that ASTER plans to launch its own public chain and open staking mechanisms in Q1, which is a significant positive for the entire ecosystem. In terms of positioning, ASTER's identity as a decentralized exchange is quite clear. The core investor is yzi, and the financing details have not been disclosed publicly, but most analysts believe this is a typical case of internal project incubation. The founder is a former employee of a leading exchange, and this model has precedents in the industry—projects supported by exchanges that support internal personnel to start their own ventures are not uncommon.

In comparison, some competitors have long failed to be listed on mainstream exchanges, exposing the international regulatory risks faced by centralized exchanges. ASTER's decentralized approach can avoid such systemic risks, which aligns with future development trends.

From the perspective of team execution, the founders have repeatedly emphasized product prioritization. The ongoing iterative improvements from early stages to now, as well as the enhancements to profit-sharing mechanisms, reflect a pragmatic operational attitude. Regarding liquidity, it is currently in a stable small-batch unlocking phase, with no obvious selling pressure risk. As staking functionality goes live, circulating supply will further tighten, and with continuous buyback mechanisms, subsequent risks will gradually decrease.

Considering these factors, Q1 indeed presents a relatively large opportunity window. No one can predict the exact timing, but for participants with risk tolerance, strategically positioning during market pullbacks is a worthwhile approach.